Dr. Cynthia Wong

Thursday, January 11, 2018

TMD-Fibromyalgia Connection

At Dr. Cynthia Wong’s Orland Park orthodontic office, we provide crucial assistance to people suffering from temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD or TMJD). Characterized by painful sensations in the joint which connects the jaw to the rest of the head, TMD can radiate outward and cause the patient to grind their teeth at night. Today, we’re looking at another disorder which has a high rate of comorbidity with TMJ: fibromyalgia.


One of the more poorly understood disorders, fibromyalgia causes fatigue and pain throughout the body. It is believed to be caused by a problem in how the brain reacts to input from the nervous system and can be triggered by trauma or illness. Besides TMD and the headaches, neck aches, and shoulder aches TMD causes, fibromyalgia also is associated with migraines, menstruation difficulty, and irritable bowel syndrome and can cause cognitive and memory problems for patients. As with TMD, women are likelier to get it than men, but fibromyalgia tends to show up in middle-aged people, while TMD more often occurs in young adults.


TMD poses a threat to patients’ oral health by causing teeth grinding and jaw clenching. If a patient’s TMD is related to fibromyalgia, it is even more important for them to reduce their pain, protect their teeth, and get better rest by getting fitted at our office for a customized night guard.


Cynthia Wong, DMD, operates at 15614 S Harlem #B, Orland Park, Illinois, 60462. To contact her office, call 708-444-8341 or visit Dr. Cynthia Wong and send a message.


 

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